Beverage bottle sorters



Nov. 10, 1964 w. J. LA COUNT ETAL 3,

BEVERAGEBOTTLE SORTERS Filed June 9, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A A INVENTORJWARD J. LA COUNT GEORGE SCHWAB ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1964 W. J. LA COUNTETAL BEVERAGE BOTTLE SORTERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1960 FIG.2

FIGB:

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Ill mu Hl l w IN VEN TOR. WAR D. J- LACOUNT BY GEORGE SCHWAB FIG. 7

ATTORNEY 1964 w. J. LA COUNT ETAL BEVERAGE BOTTLE SORTERS Filed June 9,1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WARD. J. LACOUNT. GEORGE SCHWAB.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,156,360 BEVERAGE BOTTLE SORTERS Ward 3..La Count, 120 Roxana Ave., North Syracuse, N.Y., and George Schwab,Bella Vista Drive, RD. 1, La Fayette, N.Y.

Filed June 9, 1960, Ser. No. 35,052 2 Claims. (Cl. 269-7 4) Thiinvention relates to bottle sorter apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for selecting a predetermined size of beverage bottle from anassortment of beverage bottles of varying sizes.

The invention is directed to a conveyor apparatus adapted to receivebeverage bottles disposed of assorted sizes four abreast, and to selectfrom the assorted sizes a single size and deliver such selected bottlesfor subsequent treatment such aswashing, sterilization and re-filling,while delivering the'botties of sizes different from those selected toreceiving areas for such disposition as may be desired.

The various features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafterfrom the "following detailed description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawingsare employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as adefinition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for thispurpose to the appended claims;

In the drawings," wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the bottle selecting apparatus with partsbroken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the selector sensingdevice, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional fragmentary view takensubstantially'on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken from the line 4-4of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a gate.

FIGURE 6 is an alternate form of a sensing device.

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged plan view of the sensing, and gate actuators.

Referring to the drawings, inFIGURE 1 there is shown link conveyors 2i]and 22, adapted to move in the direction of arrows AA to advancemiscellaneous bottles disposed upright thereon. The conveyors 2i) and 22are duplicated, to receive bottles'four abreast as received in standardcases containing 24- bottles, and both conveyors advance bottles inthesarne manner and operate at the same speed.

Above the left hand conveyor 29 are spaced guiderails 24 and 26, thelatter being located in the center and acting with a guide rail 28 toguide bottles moving on the right hand conveyor 22.. The spacing betweenthe guide rails 24 and 26, a d 26 and 28st the entranceerid' 3i) is su'fiicient to permit bottles to move two abreast over each conveyor, sothat bottles four abreast, as emptied from cases holding 24' bottles maybe received. In order to cause bottles approachingtwo abreast tobearranged in single file, resilient leaf springs 32 and 34; mounted onthecenter rail 26 extend diagonaliy at about 45 degrees, about half-wayacross the'path of the left and right hand conveyors 2d and 22. The leafsprings engage the sides Patented Nov. 10, 1964 of the bottles about twoinches above the conveyor. The bottles tend to approach the flat leafspring at up to double the rate by reason of the conveyor speed, but areretarded by the springs 32 and 34, so that the bottles leave in singlefile at full conveyor speed. Consequently the conveyor moves faster thanthe bottles brought into the areas 31 and 33 partially confined by thesprings 32 and 34., The springs yieldingly retard the bottles engagedthereby while thebottles against the outer rails 24 and 28 proceed,whereupon a bottle yieldingly retarded moves diagonally into line behinda bottle passing on along the rails 24 and 28, and ahead of the nextbottle being advanced along the rails 2 and 28. The advancing of theconveyor, at a rate faster than the bottles during this operation,results in frictional sliding engagement between the conveyor andthe'bottle bottoms, to bring about the single file arrangement. portions4i? and 42, provide a path way for bottles adva'ncing'single file alongthe advancing conveyors in the areas indicated at 44 and 46. Since thebottles are ar-- ranged in single file and abut one another, all bottleare frictionally propelled forward by the conveyor at conveyor speed.The most forward bottle is propelled by the line of bottles behind it,with the combined driving force of the conveyor derived by the weight ofthe line of bottles.

The two single files of bottles on conveyors 20 and 22 pass one by onethrough the bottle selector regions indicated at 48 and 50, where onesize of bottle is selected to pas down the conveyors 20and 22 to theregion 52 and toward the bottle washing apparatus (not shown), while thebottles of other sizes are delivered to the collecting areas 54 and 55,each of which have conveyors 58 and 60 moving in the direction of arrowsB. 7

Guide rails 62 and 64 define the path of travel to the region 52, or thecollecting areas 54 and 56. Each of the guide rails 62 and as arecentered midway between the respective guide rails 36 and 24 and g uiderails 38 and 28. Each of the guide rails 62 and 64 is provided at theirleading ends with a hinged gate or deflector as at 66 and 68. Each gateis of a length to extend almost tothe ends of the rails stand 36, and 23and 38, respectively,

and each is adapted to swing from the position indicated in'FIGURE 1,Where their tip ends are shown adjacent the ends of rails 24 and 28respectively, to a similar position in respect to the ends of rails 36and 33 respectively.

The gate 66 is independent of the gate 68 With the gate Lateraliydisposed on either side of each gate are guide Q rails 7d and 72, havingcurved ends 74 and 76 to provide pocket areas 78 and 86 wide enough toreceive a bottle when. the gate is angularly disposed on the side toward.such pockets, that is for example when. the gate 66 isin the positionsho'wn,1 the pocket area 78 is sufiicient to accommodate a bottle. Thusfor example if a bottle is moved toward the area 86, while the gate 66is in the position shown, and the succeeding bottle is onethat is Guiderails 36 and 38, having inclined to be advanced oppositely to the area78, the gate 66 may swing to the right, by moving the bottle into thepocket area 80, the pocket area being deep enough to allow the gate toswing to the right. Thus the succeeding bottle is advanced toward thearea 78. If the next succeeding bottle is to be moved toward the region52, the gate immediately is swung back to the position shown in FIGURE1, moving the previous bottle into the clearance or pocket area 78. Itwill be appreciated that while the foregoing takes place, the bottlesare being continuously advanced by the conveyors and 22.

In order to select a particular bottle size, the line of bottles movingdown the channels 44 and 46, one by one enter the selector regions 48and 50. Since both selectors are identical, except for one being righthanded and the other left handed, a description of one will sufiice.

In FIGURE 2, the rails 28 and 38 are shown terminating as at 82 and 84with the gate 68 immediately adjacent thereto with its leading edgeswinging on an are just beyond the ends 82 and 84 of the rails 28 and38. Also there is shown the curved ends 74 and 76 of the guide rails and72, providing the pocket areas 78 and 80.

Each selector region 48 and 50 is provided with a gauging flange such asand 91 aflixed to the guide rails 24 and 28, respectively. The flanges90 and 91, coact with earns 92, and 93 associated with the guide rails36 and 38, which cams lie in the same plane with the flanges 90 and 91.Each cam 92 and 93 is mounted on vertical shafts 94 and 95 respectively.The shafts 94 and 95 are journalled in a plate 96 mounted on the upperedge of the guide rails 36 and 38. Each shaft is journalled adjacent itsupper end in brackets as at 97 affixed to a bridge 98 extending acrossthe conveyors at a height to clear the bottles passing along theconveyors. Each shaft 94 and 95 at its upper end is provided with arms102 and 103 respectively. A common spring 106 normally holds said armsagainst stops 108. The arms 102 and 103, are adapted to actuate microswitches 104 and 105 mounted on the bridge 98, in response to bottlesengaging and rocking cams 92 or 93 respectively.

A hand wheel 110, threaded on a stud 112 attached to the outer guide 24,which extends through the upright 114 of the bridge 98, and is adaptedto vary the spacing between the flange 90 and the cam 92, by swingingthe end of the guide rail 24, on its hinge 18, toward or away from theguide rail 36 and against a coil spring 113. A similar adjusting deviceindicated at 116 in bridge upright 117 is provided for the guide rail28, the end of which is pivoted as at 19.

The gauge flanges 90 and 91 are each formed along the lower edge of aplate such as 118 each of which is secured to the end of the guide rails24 and 28 respectively by threaded fastening means 120 extending throughslots 122, so that the flanges may be raised or lowered. The guide rails24 and 28 are cut away as at 121 to permit such adjustment. The camshafts 94 and 95 are rigidly secured in the wide arms 102 and 103.Collars 109 having set screws 111 support shafts 94 and 95. By raisingor lowering shafts 94 and 95, by shifting the collars 109, the cams 92and 93 may be raised or lowered so as to lie in the plane of the gaugeflanges 90 and 91. When a bottle of a diameter larger than the spacingbetween the gauge 90 and the cam 92, or the gauge 91 and cam 93 passes,the corresponding micro switch 104, or 105 is tripped and actuation ofthe gate 66 or 68 is effected.

For this purpose, each gate is provided with an actuating solenoidarranged in circuit with its respective micro switch.

Above each gate, there is provided an arm 130, pivoted as at 132 on abracket 134 afiixed to the bridge 136, the pivot being in alignment withthe respective gate hinge such as 137 and, each arm is rigidly connectedto its respective gate by a torsion bar 138. Disposed above and affixedto the arm is lever arm 140, the ends of which extend equal distancesbeyond the pivotal center of the hinge and arm pivot 132. Solenoids 142and 144 are mounted on the bridge 136, one for each gate. Each solenoidmay be angularly adjusted on a pivot bolt such as 139, so as to alignits armature 141 with either end of the lever arm 140. A spring 146connects the lever arm with the armature. Return springs 148 connecteach lever arm with a center bridge supported bracket 147. A series ofapertures 150 in the opposite ends of each arm permits varying thelocation of the connection of the springs 146 and 148 to vary theeffectual arm length. With the solenoid armatures connected to the endsof the arms as shown, the gates are yieldingly held in the positionsshown by the springs 146 and 148 when the solenoids are de-energized.When either solenoid is energized, the gate is moved to the oppositeposition.

Referring to the circuit of FIGURE 7, it will be seen that each microswitch 104 and 105 has a normally closed circuit connection establishedby contacts and 172, which may be opened by activation of the gauge cam92 or 93, and respective arms 102 and 103, and a normally open circuitconnection which may be closed through 172 and 174, upon activation ofearns 92 or 93 and arms 102 and 103. A double pole double throw switchhaving blades 176 and 178 determines which set of contacts are to beemployed. The switch blades 176 and 178 are shown in the normally opencircuit position, and the apparatus is set to deliver to the area 52,all bottles of a diameter such that they pass by earns 92 or 93 withoutactivation thereof. All bottles of larger diameter, close contacts 172or 174 and cause the respective gate to swing, whereby each such bottleis caused to be moved into the collection regions 54 or 56.

If it be desired to select bottles of a certain diameter larger than theremainder, the guide rails are adjusted by the hand wheels to widen thespace between the gauge flanges 90 and 91, and the earns 92 and 93 sothat only the large diameter bottles of specific size actuate themicro-switches, all other bottles of smaller size passing on withoutactuating the earns 92 and 93. For this purpose, the switches areshifted to employ the closed circuit contacts 170 and 172, so that aseach such large size bottle opens such circuit, the respective solenoidis deenergized moving either gate to the positions shown in FIGURE 8,whereupon each such bottle passes on to the region 52, and all others,which do not actuate the cams 92 and 93 to open contacts 170 and 172,are caused to move into the collection regions 54 and 56.

If it can be determined when selecting only the large size bottles thatthe larger proportion of bottles will be sent to the collection areas 54and 56, the circuit just described will be closed for a greater timethan it will be open. To reduce the current consumption under theseconditions, the open circuit contacts 172 and 174 of the micro-switchesmay be employed, if the solenoids 142 and 144 are swung on their pivots139 and their armatures and springs 146 are connected to the oppositeends of the arms 140, the springs 14% also being shifted.

Many bottles of varying capacity have the same size bottoms, but byreason of being of hourglass or other fanciful shape, vary in diameterat some distance above the bottom. By raising or lowering the gaugeflanges 90 and 91 and the earns 92 and 93, the variations in bottleshape may be used for selection purposes. The apparatus selects eitherthe largest size, or the smallest size, rejecting the other sizes. Ifthe bottles are in three sizes, the apparatus may be duplicated to sortthe larger or smaller of the two sizes separated from the previouslyselected size. Thus after selection of one size, the remaining bottlesof two diameters may be delivered to a second apparatus set to selectone size of the remaining bottles and if there are bottles of foursizes, a third apparatus may be used to select one of the remainingsizes from the two sizes remaining after passing through the secondapparatus.

It will be understood however that as a bottle reaches either sensingcam 92 or 93, the gate shifts immediately in response to any bottleactuating the cam and calling for such shift, and the gate shiftsimmediately just before the bottle enters the area swept by the free endof the gate. As the next bottle moves into the sensing area, the priorbottle is well started into the pocket area 78 or 80 and if the nextbottle requires a shift of the gate, the previous bottle is moved intothe pocket as it is carried forward by the conveyor. If a sequence ofbottles of the same size pass for example to the right without shiftingof the gate, the bottles will pass on without being deflected into thepocket areas, such areas being provided for the purpose of providing anarea into which a bottle may be moved to permit the gate to shift inresponse to a bottle of difierent size which must pass to the left.

In FIGURE 6, a modified sensing device is shown wherein the bottleactuated cam 190 is ailixed to a vertical lever 192, pivoted as at 194on a horizontal axis. The upper end of the arm has a pad 196 adapted toengage and operate the micro-switch plunger 198, when a bottle ofgreater diameter than the spacing between the flange W and the cam 196passes there between. The pivot bracket 2% is slotted to receive a bolt202, whereby the cam 1% may be raised or lowered.

The dual apparatus, that is conveyors and 22 are operated at speeds suchas to receive bottles at a rate up to 600 per minute, half of suchnumber travelling on conveyor 20, and the remainder on conveyor 22. Astandard bottle cleansing apparatus is capable of operating at 250bottles per minute. The assortment of bottles received generallycontains 50% or less of the bottle size to be selected and sent on forwashing, sterilization and cleansing, so it can be seen that the outputof the sorting apparatus is comparable to that necessary to keepsubsequent apparatus in supply of bottles of the one size selected.

While conveyors 20 and 22 have been referred to as separate, bothoperate in unison, and may be one conveyor. The conveyors are supportedon a frame as is well understood in the art, such frame being indicatedby lengthwise side members indicated at 210 and 212. The guide rails 24and 28, at their adjustable ends may be in part supported from theadjustment screws 110, and at their other ends from a bridge such as 214having up rights extending upward from the frame members 210 and 212.The guide rails 36 and 38 may be hung from the bridge 98 as by a membersuch as 216, and supported at their other ends from the bridge 214, thebridge being supported from the members 210 and 212 as by the uprightsindicated at 114 and 117.

The guide rails 70 may likewise be hung from the bridge 136, whichbridge is supported by side members such as 240 extending upwardly fromthe members 210 and 212, similarly as in the case of the bridge 98. Theguide rails 62 and 64, may also be supported from the bridge as bymembers such as 244.

In practice the bottles selected may be caused to traverse the outerlanes, which may converge at some distant point, while the bottlesrejected may proceed down the center to a central bottle case filler.

In the form shown,.the bottles as they collect in the areas 54 and 56are removed and placed in cases,

manually or otherwise.

a While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

We claim:

l. A bottle sorting apparatus comprising a conveyor for moving circularbottles upright position, a pair of guide rails disposed immediatelyabove said conveyor extending in a direction of movement of saidconveyor, said guide rails forming a guide way for single file movementof bottles therebetween, and terminating immediately beyond a bottlediameter sensing region, movable cam means disposed above said conveyorat guide rail height on one side of said sensing region, and being movedby the passage of the body portion of bottles exceeding a predetermineddiameter at the height of said cam means, a center guide rail disposedabove said conveyor beyond said sensing region, having the end nearestsaid sensing region disposed substantially on a center line between saidpair of guide rails; a gate of a radial length substantially greaterthan the circular bottles to be sorted pivoted at the said end of saidcenter guide rail and extending toward the ends of said pair of guiderails, and having its free end swing through an are between the ends ofsaid pair of rails, means for biasing said gate to a position with itsfree end adjacent the end of one of said pair of rails, means forswinging the free end of said gate to a position adjacent the end of theother of said pair of rails in response to movement of said 0am means,and guide rails disposed on either side of said center rail in spacedrelation to provide two paths for bottles to move on opposite sides ofsaid center rail, said last named guide rails having curved pocketforming portions on opposite sides of the free end of said gate, thepockets formed by the pocket forming portions of said last named guiderails being of a suificient width immediately adjacent the end of saidguide way means and in advance of said gate hinge to accommodate abottle when the gate is swung to its end limit position adjacent thepocket, whereby the gate may move a bottle into the pocket for deliveryto one pathway in order to receive an immediately succeeding bottle fordelivery into the other pathway said curved portions terminatingadjacent the respective ends of said pair of rails.

2. A circular bottle sorting apparatus, a conveyor, a pair of guiderails extending in the direction of movement of said conveyor anddisposed immediately above said conveyor at one end thereof and spacedapart to accommodate upright circular bottles on said conveyor disposedtwo abreast, a leaf spring secured to one of said guide rails, extendingdiagonally across said conveyor in the direction of movement of saidconveyor and terminating approximately midway between said rails tocause bottles to arrange themselves in single file, a pair of guiderails disposed immediately above said conveyor beyond said leaf springand extending in the direction of movement of said conveyor, said guiderails forming a guide way for single file movement of circular bottlestherebetween, and terminating immediately beyond a bottle diametersensing region, movable cam means disposed above said conveyor at guiderail height on one side of said sensing region, and being moved by thepassage of the body portion of bottles exceeding a predetermineddiameter at the height of said cam means, a center guide rail disposedabove said conveyor beyond said sensing region,

having the end nearest said sensing region disposed substantially on acenter line between said pair of guide rails; a gate of a length greaterthan the overall diameter of the bottles to be sorted pivoted at thesaid end of said center guide rail and extending toward the ends of saidpair of guide rails, and having its free end swing through an arebetween the ends of said pair of rails, means for biasing said gate to aposition with its free end adjacent the end of one of said pair ofrails, means for swinging the free end of said gate to a positionadjacent the end of the other of said pair of rails in response tomovement of said 0am means, and guide raiis disposed on either side ofsaid center rail in spaced relation to provide two paths for bottlestomove on opposite sides of said center rail, said last named guiderails having curved pocket forming portions on opposite sides of thefree end of said gate, the pockets formed by the pocket forming portionsof said last named guide rails being of a sufiicient width immediatelyadjacent the end of said guide way means and in advance of said gatehinge to accommodate a bottle when the gate is swung to its end limitposition adjacent the pocket, whereby the gate may move a bottle intothe pocket for delivery to one pathway in order to receive animmediately succeeding bottle for delivery into the other pathway saidcurved portions terminating adjacent the respective ends of said pair ofrails and providing space to receive a bottle Without interfering withthe swing of said gate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A BOTTLE SORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONVEYOR FOR MOVING CIRCULARBOTTLES IN UPRIGHT POSITION, A PAIR OF GUIDE RAILS DISPOSED IMMEDIATELYABOVE SAID CONVEYOR EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAIDCONVEYOR, SAID GUIDE RAILS FORMING A GUIDE WAY FOR SINGLE FILE MOVEMENTOF BOTTLES THEREBETWEEN, AND TERMINATING IMMEDIATELY BEYOND A BOTTLEDIAMETER SENSING REGION, MOVABLE CAM MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CONVEYORAT GUIDE RAIL HEIGHT ON ONE SIDE OF SAID SENSING REGION, AND BEING MOVEDBY THE PASSAGE OF THE BODY PORTION OF BOTTLES EXCEEDING A PREDETERMINEDDIAMETER AT THE HEIGHT OF SAID CAM MEANS, A CENTER GUIDE RAIL DISPOSEDABOVE SAID CONVEYOR BEYOND SAID SENSING REGION, HAVING THE END NEARESTSAID SENSING REGION DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY ON A CENTER LINE BETWEEN SAIDPAIR OF GUIDE RAILS; A GATE OF A RADIAL LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY GREATERTHAN THE CIRCULAR BOTTLES TO BE SORTED PIVOTED AT THE SAID END OF SAIDCENTER GUIDE RAIL AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE ENDS OF SAID PAIR OF GUIDERAILS, AND HAVING ITS FREE END SWING THROUGH AN ARC BETWEEN THE ENDS OFSAID PAIR OF RAILS, MEANS FOR BIASING SAID GATE TO A POSITION WITH ITSFREE END ADJACENT THE END OF ONE OF SAID PAIR OF RAILS, MEANS FORSWINGING THE FREE END OF SAID GATE TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE END OF THEOTHER OF SAID PAIR OF RAILS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM MEANS,AND GUIDE RAILS DISPOSED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID CENTER RAIL IN SPACEDRELATION TO PROVIDE TWO PATHS FOR BOTTLES TO MOVE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OFSAID CENTER RAIL, SAID LAST NAMED GUIDE RAILS HAVING CURVED POCKETFORMING PORTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FREE END OF SAID GATE, THEPOCKETS